DAILY LOBO new mexico
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The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
October 8,2009
Location of new dorms raises some concerns
Jazz hands
by Tricia Remark Daily Lobo
Vanessa Sanchez / Daily Lobo Student Nate Kanyinda plays jazz on the piano in the SUB on Wednesday. Kanyinda played a few songs before heading off to his evening class.
The dorms on south campus have yet to be approved, but they’ve already prompted claims of preferential treatment for athletes. GPSA President Lissa Knudsen said south campus dorms would give preferential treatment to athletes because they will be close to athletic complexes. “There are just a lot of concerns that we have with that particular site, and one of those concerns is that it’s located adjacent to the athletic facility,” Knudsen said. “This seems to be a way to cater specifically to the athletes — it’s the only thing that I can see that’s going on there.” Steve Beffort, Vice President of Institutional Support Services, said the south campus dorms are not intended to give student athletes advantages over other students. He said the dorms are being built for upperclassmen use. “There have been some people trying to imply that it’s only an athletic venture, and it really has nothing to do with athletes,” Beffort said. “The whole point is
athletes would have the same option to live there as other people if they’re upperclassmen.” Knudsen said the University would violate NCAA guidelines if the south campus dorms are used mainly for athletes. According to NCAA bylaw 16.5.1.1, athletics dormitories are defined as “institutional dormitories in which at least 50 percent of the residents are student-athletes.” Sports Information Director Greg Remington said it’s not possible for half of the new dorms to be occupied by student-athletes. He said there are 415 student-athletes — 125 of them freshmen — attending UNM this year. Since the proposed dorms are reserved for upperclassmen only, Remington said less than 300 student athletes could live in the residence hall, which will have at least 800 beds. Sports Compliance Manager Dawn Martinez said athletic dorms would never be allowed at UNM. “From the athletic department perspective, we wouldn’t support athletic-only dorms because it is
see Dorms page 3
Students ask sustainability studies to create a major by Andrew Beale Daily Lobo
UNM’s Sustainability Studies Program has seen an increase in student enrollment and demand for a sustainability studies major this year. Program Director Bruce Milne said last semester the program had approximately 55 students, and this year 87 students have enrolled. He said the increased enrollment will allow professors in sustainability studies to provide new classes.
Milne said the increase in the number of credit hours will also provide more funding for the program next semester. “What we’re set up to do this year is to have a 56 percent increase in the student credit hours we generate,” he said. “So it’s definitely a fastgrowing program. It’s not huge, you know, but it’s fast-growing.” Students still cannot major in sustainability studies, Milne said, but they can take it as a minor or enroll in sustainability studies courses as electives.
When the program first started, a major wasn’t offered because of concern for students being able to find a job with a degree in sustainability studies, Milne said. “We didn’t want to put the students at risk — like if you were a sustainability major, your boss might say ‘Yeah, but what do you really do?’” he said. “Now that was a few years ago, when we set this up, and now the demand is there for a major. I surveyed my students the other day, and it was unanimous. They would love to see a major in
sustainability studies.” Milne said the Sustainability Studies Program works with six departments at the University, including those in the School of Architecture and Planning and the College of Arts and Sciences. “All of the students are eligible to take our minor,” he said. “That means that if they combine that with their major, then when they work as an architect, they can be a greener architect, or if they work as a chemist, they’ll be a greener chemist or a greener economist or fine artist.”
Milne said he is studying similar programs at other universities to get ideas about how to implement a sustainability studies major at UNM. “I’m challenging myself to find out ways to differentiate our major from other sustainability majors,” he said. “What would really make it special here?” Student Gael Whettnall, who is a student in the Sustainability Studies Program, said it’s important to learn about environmental issues.
see Sustainability page 5
Berry’s win attributed to economy by Kristian Macaron Daily Lobo
The mayoral race came to an end earlier than Albuquerque expected. The Oct. 6 Albuquerque Mayoral Election will not continue with a runoff election in November. According to the City Clerk’s Web site, Richard “R.J.” Berry won the election with 43.22 percent of the vote over Incumbent Mayor Martin Chavez and candidate Richard Romero. Berry had 32.273 total votes. Chavez ended the election with roughly 35 percent of the vote, and Romero had about 21 percent of the votes counted. The election outcome was declared with nearly 90 percent of Albuquerque precincts reporting. Berry needed more than 40 percent of the vote to win the mayoral election.
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All the city bond measures on the ballot passed, including bonds for a transportation tax, public safety, energy and water, and public transportation. Of about 327,000 registered voters in Albuquerque, only about 80,000 votes were cast, according to the City Clerk’s Web site. The Clerk’s office expected turnout to be between 30 and 40 percent, but instead it was less than 25 percent. UNM business professor Howard Kraye said he encouraged his students to vote, even if they were apathetic about the race. “I pushed all my students to go vote. …They didn’t see the connection between their voting and what was happening,” he said. “I said you have to do this because it’s a sacred right. So they all went out and voted,
so that’s the good news.” Mayor-elect Berry attended the University of New Mexico where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in finance. He and his wife own and operate a construction business in Albuquerque. Berry’s campaign focused on government transparency, education and public safety. At the debate held Sept. 19, Berry said public safety was an issue that came up as he campaigned door-to-door. “There is a common thread with the people I’ve had discussions with. People want to feel safe in their homes,” he said at the debate. “And they don’t. They want a bright future for their children. They want a good job that will enable them to support
see Berry page 5
Pat Vasquez-Cunningham / AP Photo Mayor-elect Richard Berry addresses his supporters at the Sheraton Uptown in Albuquerque on Tuesday. With over 43 percent of the vote, Berry prevented incumbent Martin Chavez from winning a third consecutive term.
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